Construction of New Highways through Tiger and Elephant Habitats
whether the proposed expansions of certain National Highways and construction of proposed new highways will pass through vital tiger and elephant habitats especially Jaipur-Alwar Highway in Sariska, NH-7 in Kanha-Pench corridor, NH-6 in Nagzira-Navegaon-Melghat landscape, NH-69 through Ratapani Tiger Reserve, proposed Vijayawada-Ranchi Highway through tiger and elephant habitats in Odisha; and
(b) if so, whether Government has taken any steps to provide crucial wildlife corridors for the affected animals at convenient locations in order to save them from road accidents?
Proposals relating to expansion / upgradation of some National / State Highways involve corridors of wild animals, as identified at a macro level.
Appropriate safeguards for wild animals are made conditional, while dealing with such proposals on a case-to-case basis, keeping in mind the functional value of wildlife corridors.
The Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan gave this information in a written reply to a question by Dr. Chandan Mitra in Rajya Sabha today.
KP